She tucked her hair behind her ear, darting her eyes here and there, making sure the small group of her classmates didn’t notice she was watching them.
A basketball player. Tall, slender, blonde hair, blue eyes.
A football player. Beefy, broad shoulder, brown hair and eyes.
A cheerleader. Semi-short, curvy, brown hair and eyes. Twin to the football star.
All three as popular as popular can be.
All three’s souls white and shining bright in their youth.
She had over heard them talking about wanting a real spooky haunted house. She could make that happen. And she would.
If she could get her feet moving.
In a few short minutes and the three would leave the school.
She had to move. But couldn’t.
The crisp breeze brushed against her cheek. Though heat flooded her body instead of a chill.
It was now or never.
Gulping down remainders of her doubts, she tightened her hand on her backpack strap, pushed off the wall, and walked over to them.
“I’m telling you, man. That haunted house last year was so lame.” The basketball star crushed his soda can.
“No kidding.” The cheerleader flipped her hair over her shoulder. “It was, like, totally lame. I’ve seen cartoons scarier than that.”
“Maybe we should egg houses instead.” The football star leaned back against the sports car.
“Very mature.” His twin shoved him.
“Hm?” The basketball star shifted his eyes.
She froze. He was looking at her. For the first time she had moved to this school.
“Ew.” The cheerleader wrinkled her nose. “Like, what is goth girl doing over here?”
She frowned. She wasn’t goth at all. And she had no idea why people called her that. Liking the color black didn’t make you anything. It was just her favor color. It suited her.
“Let’s go.” The cheerleader slid off the trunk.
The boys nodded. The basketball star pulled out his keys.
Her heart thumped. They were going to leave and she hadn’t said a word.
“Better get outta the way,” the basketball star warned.
“Don’t tell her that. Just run her over.” The cheerleader jerked the car door open.
“Girl, that’s harsh!” The football player laughed. “You’ll totally ruin the beautiful paint job.”
She paid them no mind. Their words and attitude towards her were nothing new. With a licked her lips the words came spilling out of her mouth. “I live in a haunted house.”
The three paused, eyes locked onto her.
Heat rushed to her face. Making her pale skin stand out even more no doubt.
“Like, have you been listening to our conversations?” The cheerleader glared.
“Hold on a sec.” The basketball star moved from the car.
She tensed as he stopped in front of her. His shaving cream wafted into her nose.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
She swallowed, her eyes locked onto his. “M-my dad and I make a haunted house every year. We moving into a real one when we came here. You could come to it.”
“Where do you even live?” The football star stepped over.
“That old Victorian house out on Mill Road.”
“No way!” The football star’s eyes bugged out. “You actually live in that place?!”
“You can’t be serious!” The cheerleader rushed over to them. “How can you live in that house?!”
She shrugged. “It’s just a house.”
“No way! It’s not just a house!” The cheerleader tucked her arms close to her chest as if it would protect her. “Anyone who lives in that house gets murdered there! I can’t believe someone moved in!”
“Do you want to come?” she asked.
“Of course!” the three shouted.
“This is going to be epic!” The football player pumped his fists. “Why didn’t we think of it before?! A haunted house in a haunted house!”
“It’s going to be, like, totally amazing!” The cheerleader squealed and whipped out her cell phone. “I have to tell everyone!”
“Do you need help setting anything up?” The basketball player asked.
“No.” She shook her head. “My father and I can handle that.”
The basketball star nodded. With happy chatter and smiles, the three crawled in the car.
She stepped aside, leaves crunching under her shoes. She watched the car drive off.
It was done.
She sat on the railing, kicking her feet back and forth as she watched the three from before get out of their cars with the rest of their friends. Her lips curled into a frown. All dressed in their ball and cheerleader uniforms.
She shook her head, allowing her hair to fall over her face. They had no imagination for a day dedicated to be anyone or anything.
They walked up the stairs and passed her, unaware of her presence in the shadows. Their souls shining brighter than a star in anticipation.
She didn’t mind. All she was to do was sit there and make sure everyone went in. No one could leave without going inside first.
Screams erupted within seconds of their entering.
She drew in a breath and slowly released it. A puffy cloud swirled from her lips before vanishing into the dark night.
Several minutes later the students came stumbling out, grasping onto each other or the house in an attempt to keep on their feet.
Their souls diminished to a dull gray glow.
The cheerleader tumbled down the stairs. Rolling to a stop on the ground with her arms and legs spread wide.
“Hey... sis... get up.” The football player panted with every word.
“Tired.” The cheerleader yawned. “Sleep.”
“You... can’t... on the ground.” The basketball player yawned.
The two boys grabbed the girl’s hands, almost falling themselves as they helped her to their feet. Somehow they all got into their cars. They always did. And always managed to get home before fall into unconsciousness.
People came. People went. All the same. Happy chatter, bright souls going in. Screams going through. Exhaustion, dull souls coming out.
Midnight ticked closer. Silence blanketed the house.
It was over.
Lifting her feet over the railing, she headed inside, her cape billowing behind her.
Candle light flickered, tossing her shadows over the dusty, broken halls.
The boards creaked in protest of her weight. Rusted hinges groaned as she opened the basement door and descended the darkness until a soft white glow pushed it away.
“You did very well,” a deep, raspy voice said from the massive black shadow cupping the glow with skeleton fingers.
“Thank you, Father.” She bowed her head in an acknowledgment to his words. “Though it wasn’t necessary to send him.”
“Oh? It looked to me you were getting cold feet.” A chuckle and cold wind wrapped around her arm and between her fingers. His icy breath kissed her ear. “You needed me. If not, you would have sent me away.”
Heat filled her cheeks as he materialized beside her. From head to toe his body an icy blue. His touch colder than ice. His gaze haunting and hallow. Yet he warmed her from inside out.
“It matters not. She did her duty well,” her father said. With a wave of his skeleton fingers, he called them over. “Let us feast before the night strikes midnight. Come, my beautiful Harvest. You shall take the first soul.”
“Yes, Father.” She stepped forward. Pinching a piece of the glow between her fingers, she pulled it from the rest and slipped it between her lips.
